Specimen(12)

“What is it this time?”

“Battle simulation,” she says. “This one will feel very real to you but shouldn’t be too difficult. We’re going to get some benchmark numbers on this one. The simulation itself isn’t overly taxing. It should be pretty straightforward and easy for you.”

I sit in the virtual training chamber as Riley attaches electrodes to key points on my body. Once they are all in place, she tells me to lean back in the chair and then attaches an interface to a spot behind my right ear. As soon as she does, the implants in my brain switch to simulation mode. My vision, hearing, and other senses are rerouted from the virtual training chamber to the computer. At first, I sense myself in a large, dark area of undefined proportions. A few seconds later, the simulation begins.

“All set?” Riley’s voice is inside my head.

“I’m good.” I roll my shoulders and stretch my neck. The black around me fades to a grey fog. The fog takes shape, and a landscape appears. The sky is cloudless but filled with a thick haze. The ground is hard, and there’s a dry, cool breeze in the air.

“Your destination is two kilometers to the north. Find a tactical position to counter the numbers. No survivors.”

“Got it.”

I make my way to the north at a fast run. As I move, I check the contents of the pack I’ve been supplied with by the simulation. There’s ammo for the AR slung over my back as well as for the Glock at my waist but nothing else.

I come over a small hill and slow my pace. I can see a line of buildings in the valley, and I make my way to the largest one. There are smaller outbuildings surrounding it, providing adequate cover from the few guards posted around. I just need to get to the far side—I can see a tower there, which would provide an excellent position for taking out the guards near the main doors.

I climb the side of the tower, watching the movements of each of the nine guards outside. They don’t look my way as I reach the top and settle myself into position. I check the extra magazine for the rifle, placing the clip next to me so I can access it easily to reload.

I lift the rifle to my shoulder, and I’m about to start firing when I hear a sound inside my head.

“Sten, there’s a problem!” There’s panic in Riley’s voice, but I don’t understand why. My position is sound, and I should have no trouble knocking out the enemy. Besides, it’s just a simulation. Why is she rattled?

“Everything looks good to me,” I say.

“Not in there,” she says. “Out here.”

The grey fog fills the area around me once again. There’s a tug at my right ear, and I’m abruptly back in the virtual training center. The sound of sirens fills my ears.

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know.” Riley quickly pulls the sensors from my skin. “Those alarms are supposed to be reserved for an invasion.”

My body stills as my brain activates. Scenarios play through my head—everything from a false alarm to a small recon force looking for more information on the facility’s activities to an all-out attack. Every possible situation is processed. Every action I may take, and the potential consequence for the given action, is calculated. It happens so quickly, I barely realize how much information has gone through my head before the best line of action is determined.

Riley’s safety is key.

“I need to get you out of here,” I tell her.

“Shouldn’t we find out what’s happening first?”

It’s a question, not a command. There is no compelling need to do as she says. The tactical information inside my head takes over. Until I know she’s safe, she’s going to do as I tell her.

“Until we understand what’s going on, you need to be out of this building. I need you somewhere where I can protect you better. I don’t know how many people have infiltrated, how they’re armed, or where they’re located. I need space.”

I grab her hand, go to the door, and wait for her to access it. Once it opens, I quickly check the corridor for signs of intruders. The blaring alarm continues, but there is no sign of people.

“Do you have access to weapons?” I ask her.

“No,” she says with a shake of her head. “Not here, anyway. There’s an armory in the building next to the medical center, but that would be a long haul.”

“We need to mobilize the other soldiers like me. The other eighty-eight of them.”

“We can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because they’re all dead, Sten. You are the only one who survived the rest of the transformation.”

She hadn’t told me anything about this. I’d barely thought of the other men who shared my fate. I knew of their existence, but what was happening to them hadn’t been a consideration. How could I be the only one?